Priority scheme for communication system

Abstract

A priority scheme method ( 300 ) for a communication system ( 100 ) at a base station ( 110 ) is described herein. The method can include the steps of receiving ( 310 ) from one or more mobile devices ( 120, 130 ) a power status message and allocating ( 315 ) a data profile of a frame based on the power status messages to enable higher priority mobile devices to receive data in the frame before lower priority mobile devices. As an example, the power status message may indicate whether a mobile device is being powered by a portable power source ( 175 ) or a non-portable power source ( 195 ).

1 . A priority scheme method for a communication system, comprising:
 at a base station, receiving from one or more mobile devices a power status message;   allocating a data profile of a frame based on the power status messages to enable higher priority mobile devices to receive data in the frame before lower priority mobile devices.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein allocating the data profile of a frame based on the power status messages includes scheduling in a downlink map or an uplink map data transmissions such that the data transmissions for the higher priority mobile devices are allocated before the data transmissions for the lower priority mobile devices. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the power status message indicates whether a mobile device is being powered by a portable power source or a non-portable power source. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein if the power status message indicates that the mobile device is being powered by a portable power source, the power status message also indicates the amount of charge remaining on the portable power source. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein a mobile device being powered by a portable power source is a higher priority mobile device and a mobile device being powered by a non-portable power source is a lower priority mobile device. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the data transmissions for a mobile device with a portable power source with a first amount of charge are scheduled before the data transmissions for a mobile device with a portable power source with a second amount of charge, wherein the first amount of charge is lower than the second amount of charge. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising allocating periods of absence based on the power status messages, wherein longer periods of absences are allocated to the higher priority mobile devices over the lower priority mobile devices. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising allocating larger data bursts based on the power status messages, wherein the larger data bursts are allocated to the higher priority mobile devices. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising dynamically cycling the allocation of data profiles based on the power status messages for subsequent frames. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the power status messages are discreet messages transmitted over an uplink channel or are part of a pre-existing message transmitted over the uplink channel. 
     
     
         11 . A priority scheme method for a broadband communication system, comprising:
 at a base station, receiving a power status message from one or more mobile devices, wherein the power status messages are associated with the type of power sources that are currently providing power to the mobile devices;   based on the power status messages, scheduling data transmissions for the mobile devices in a downlink map such that the transmissions intended for mobile devices providing power status messages that indicate a power critical status are allocated prior to the transmission intended for mobile devices providing power status messages that indicate a power non-critical status.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising, based on the power status messages, scheduling data transmissions for the mobile devices in an uplink map such that the transmissions from mobile devices providing power status messages that indicate a power critical status are allocated prior to the transmissions from mobile devices providing power status messages that indicate a power non-critical status. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the power critical status refers to the mobile device being currently powered by a battery and the power non-critical status refers to a mobile device being powered by a hard-wired power system. 
     
     
         14 . A base station, comprising:
 a transceiver that receives power status messages from one or more mobiles devices, wherein some of the mobile devices are powered by a portable power source and some of the mobile devices are powered by a non-portable power source;   a scheduler coupled to the transceiver, wherein the scheduler schedules data transmissions based on the power status messages, wherein the scheduler grants in a transmission map a higher priority to the data transmissions that are associated with the mobile devices powered by the portable power sources.   
     
     
         15 . The base station according to  claim 14 , wherein the transmission map is a downlink map or an uplink map and the base station is part of a communication system that uses orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation. 
     
     
         16 . The base station according to  claim 14 , wherein the power status messages also indicate an amount of charge remaining on the portable power sources and the granting of priority by the scheduler is further based on the amount of charge remaining on the portable power sources. 
     
     
         17 . The base station according to  claim 14 , wherein the scheduler further allocates periods of absence based on the power status messages, wherein longer periods of absences are allocated to the mobile devices with the portable power sources over the mobile devices with the non-portable power sources. 
     
     
         18 . The base station according to  claim 14 , wherein the scheduler allocates larger data bursts based on the power status messages, wherein the larger data bursts are allocated to the mobile devices with the portable power sources over the mobile devices with the non-portable power sources. 
     
     
         19 . The base station according to  claim 14 , wherein the scheduler dynamically cycles the allocation of data profiles based on the power status messages for subsequent frames. 
     
     
         20 . The base station according to  claim 14 , wherein the receiver receives the power status messages as discreet messages transmitted over an uplink channel or as part of a pre-existing message transmitted over the uplink channel.